PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Akiyama Shinichi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Churchill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akiyama Shinichi had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Shinichi
vs
Churchill

155 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akiyama Shinichi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andrew Churchill!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Churchill manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Shinichi on his heels. He'll look to pass Shinichi's guard now, I'm sure.
Shinichi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Churchill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shinichi is on top in guard.
Shinichi stands and throws Churchill's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Shinichi has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Churchill is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Churchill swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Shinichi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Churchill is looking to improve his position but Shinichi isn't that keen on the idea.
Shinichi blocks Churchill's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Shinichi content just to control the position here.
Churchill flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shinichi controlling from the full mount.
Churchill is looking to get to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Shinichi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Shinichi prevents Churchill from getting the reversal.
Churchill swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Shinichi controlling from the full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Churchill throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Churchill is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Churchill flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Churchill is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Churchill is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Shinichi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Churchill is looking to escape.
Shinichi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Churchill is looking to improve his position but Shinichi isn't that keen on the idea.
Churchill throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Churchill is trying to escape the mount.
Shinichi tries to control but Churchill wriggling away.
Shinichi controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Churchill is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Shinichi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Churchill is looking to escape.
Shinichi controlling the position easily from mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Akiyama Shinichi just wasn't active enough.

Churchill feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Churchill throws a big elbow that misses.
Churchill postures up in Shinichi's guard and throws a big left but Shinichi blocks it.
Shinichi is pulling down on Churchill's head to control his posture.

Shinichi has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Churchill should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Shinichi has tightened it up now! Churchill should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Akiyama Shinichi!
A victorious Akiyama Shinichi thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.